Australia are again back on the top step of the podium in the
women's team pursuit upsetting traditional rivals Great
Britain for the title at the 2019 UCI Track World
Championships in Pruszkow, Poland.

Ashlee Ankudinoff added a third crown to her name with Amy
Cure and Annette Edmondson a second as Georgia Baker and Alex
Manly, both junior world champions snared a maiden title.

Appearing in control throughout the competition Australia
qualified fastest on Wednesday in a time of 4mins 14.915
seconds with Ankudinoff, Baker, Cure and Edmondson sending a
warning to the field.

In the first round Manly replaced Edmondson as the team
dispatched a young Italian team following a mechanical issue
and a false start by Italy. The time of 4mins 13.913 slightly
faster than that set by Great Britain of 4mins 14.067 to set
up a closely matched ride for gold.

With Edmondson returning for the final Australia took the lead
over the opening kilometre before a fight back by Great
Britain lead by Olympic Champions Elinor Barker, Laura Kenny
and Katie Archibald with Eleanor Dickinson to give them the
lead at the half way mark.

The close battle continued as both teams upped the pace to
keep just ahead of the British quartet. A fast closing Great
Britain nearly stole the race on the line with Australia
falling apart on the closing lap, though their lead would
prove enough to take the title.

Ankudinoff has been the core member of the team since going
back to 2010 when she claimed her first world title with Josie
Tomic and Sarah Kent and was part of the 2015 winning squad.

"It has been a couple of years since we have been on the top
step. This is definitely special to share it with the four
other girls plus two at home, it is a very special moment and
I will never forget this," Ankudinoff said.

"It means a lot, it really means a lot. I'm proud of the girls
and we put everything into this," added coach Jason Bartram.
"To see it come across and see those girls get what they work
for every day means everything."